Cove construction for use with floor or wall coverings and the like



y 6, 1936- V v N. A. BRAND v 2,041,399

COVE CONSTRUCTION FOR USE WITH FLOOR OR WALL COVERINGS AND THE LIKEFiled Aug. 1, 1931 INVENTOR Patented May .26, 1936 COVE CONSTRUCTION FORUSE WITH FLOOR OR WALL COVERINGS AND THE LIKE Norman A. Brand,Lancaster, Pa... assignor to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa, acorporation of Pennsylvania Application August 1, 1931, Serial No.554,500 8Claims. (01. -74) This invention relates to a cove constructionfor floor or Wall coverings and the like and is herein particularlyillustrated and described as applied to the formation of a cove at thejunction of a floor and a'wall, although it is applicable so as to forma cove which wi11,be strong and. of good appearance. It has heretoforebeen proposed in the relatively few cases where such construction isfollowed to employ a shaped wooden strip which is nailed into the cornerbefore the floor covering is applied. This construction, however, isunsatisfactory because even though the wood is reduced to a featheredge, it is dificult to turn the floor covering over the wood Withoutsome break in the desired smooth curvature. This is particularly truebecause the wall and floor surfaces are never mathematically accuratebut are subject to considerable irregularity. Such irregularities areusually not immediately apparent to the eye, but when it is attempted tofit a relatively rigidwood strip into the corner every slight differencein level of the floor boards introduces potential difficulty. The floorcovering, by reason of such irregularities may not be properly cementedto the floor at certain points, thus causing a faulty installation, orthere may exist a sufficient diiference in level between the floor boardand the edge of the wooden corner strip that there. is danger ofcracking of the floor. covering at this point.

Another difficulty arises in that this type of cove construction isfrequently desired in connection with a wall covering of tile or insimulation of tile. The eye follows the .lines between tiles and ifthere is any irregularity in the installation of the floor coveringadjacent its edges such irregularities become magnified to the eye andresult in an inferior installation. Because of these difficulties inexisting methods the industry has had recourse to the use of preformedcove and base units or tiles which must be manually fitted into thecorner between the wall and the. floor. This procedure is slow and veryexpensive and introduces a large number of joints wherein the cement isalways subject to attack by soap and water or other cleaning agents.

I provide a cove comprising a strip of sheet metal bent to provideskirts which lie along the two room surfaces as, forexample, the floorand the wall. The skirts are banded by a curved por-' tion. over whichthe covering material may be placed. The cove unit is sufiicientlystrong to withstand the forces to which it is subjected by reason oftraffic or cleaning, or by reason of expansion or contraction of thecovering material cemented thereto. The skirts, nevertheless, aresulficiently flexible that they adapt themselves to irregularitiesin thefloor and wall, thereby eliminating any danger of the floor coveringbeing forced adjacent the edges ofthe cove member to levels so differentfrom the adjacent level of the floor or wall as to preclude propercementing or give rise to cracking. Instead of feathering the edge ofthe metal, as might be done, I prefer to use metal of a thicknesssubstantially equal to the thickness of .a. layer of materialintermediate the floor and the floor covering. It is common practice,for example, in the laying of linoleum to cement a layer of felt to thefloor and. then cement the linoleum to the felt. The felt layer isrelatively thin and by using metal of a suitable gauge the'top face ofthe cove skirt lies substantially flush with the top face of the feltlayer. In practice a cove made of ordinary steel strip of 28 gauge willbe found satisfactory for use.

I further make provision for binding the edge of the-covering material.This may be done by turning over the edge of one of the skirts orstriking up a binding strip thereon, or, if desired, a separate bindingstrip may be employed as hereinafter described. I may also secure thecovering material to the skirt prior to installation of the cove. Incertain cases this may prove advantageous. In such case I prefer toapply the floor covering to the cove strip while the same is fiat, or,at any rate, possessed of materially less curvature than in its finalform, and to bend the assembled strip to the desired profile. This putsthe covering material under compression. It gives a tight jointparticularly where an edge binding strip is employed, and if some slightbending of the cove strip becomes necessary in making the installationthe initial compression of the linoleum permits of this withoutstraiming thecementand'causing possible separation of the covering andthe metal backing. I

Provision isfurther made. for joining adjacent pieces in such mannerthat a strong and waterproof joint is obtained, and, in order toeliminate fitting at the corners, I prefer that corner units be alsoprovided. This simplifies thejoining for the layer as the corners may befitted in and then straight pieces cut to length. The provision of acove backing formed from sheet metal is highly desirable at the cornersbecause in most building construction the walls are not exactly at rightangles to one another, there being slight variations in angle. The metalcorner units adapt themselves readily to such irregularities and insurea good appearing and satisfactory corner construction.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating various desirable forms of myinvention,

Figure 1 is a perspective view,.partly broken away so as to show aninstallation;

Figure 2 is a section through the cove backing;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing a modified form;

Figure 4 is a view showing the manner of forming a cove unit having thecovering material applied thereto prior to installation;

Figure 5 is a similar view but showing a modification;

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 but showing a separatebinder strip;

Figure '7 is a plan view, partly broken away, showing a joint;

Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views showing, respectively, outside andinside corner units; and

Figures 10 and 11 are views similar to Figure 2 but showing modifiedforms of coves.

Referring first to Figure 1 there is shown a floor F and a wall W whichit is desired to cover with a hard surface material of the linoleumfeltbase type. In this case there is shown a floor covering 2 of linoleumand a wall covering 3 of like material patterned to simulate tile. Atthe corner 0 between the wall and the floor there is inserted in metalcove backing 4 which is illustrated in detail in Figure 2. This covecomprises a skirt 5 adapted to lie along the floor, and a skirt 5adapted to lie along the wall, which skirts are joined by a curvedportion 1. Nail holes 8 are provided so that the unit may be fastened inplace. The edge of the skirt 6 is turned over as indicated at 9 to forma binding for the edge of the linoleum 2.

Before applying the linoleum 2 and the wall covering 3 the cove isnailed in place as shown in Figure 1 and adapts itself to anyirregularities which may be present in the floor or wall. A layer l0 offelt is then cemented to the floor, this layer terminating adjacent theedge of the skirt 5. The metal from which the cove backing is formed isapproximately the same thickness as the felt so as to provide a flushjoint. The linoleum 2 is then cemented over the felt and its margins IIare laid over the cove and cemented thereto. The edges terminate in thebinding strips 9 and are adequately protected thereby.

The wall covering 3 is extended upwardly from the binding strip 9 andwhen the exposed face l2 of such strip is painted the installation iscomplete. The painting may be done either before or after the surfacecoverings have been applied, or it may be done .at the factory and priorto application of the cove strip to the room surfaces.

Figure 3 shows a modified construction wherein the metal of the skirts5a and 6a has been doubled on itself to form binding strips [3 and I. Ifdesired, one binder strip alone may be thus formed. With the binderstrip formed as illustrated in Figure 3, the installation will require awall covering 3a, a floor covering 2a. and a cove covering l5. Figure 4shows a preferred method whereby the cove covering l5 maybe put in placeat the factory. The' metal strip in flat form is shown at X in Figure 4,and the linoleum is cemented in place while flat. The strip is then bentup to shape as, for example, by passing it between forming rolls, thuscompressing the linoleum, insuring tight edges and eliminating anypossibility of the linoleum i5 becoming separated from the metal backingeven though the skirts may be bent away from one another duringinstallation. In cases where the thinner gauge linoleums are used thebinding strips l3 and II may be eliminated. Thus the method illustratedin Fig. 4 may be employed with other embodiments of the invention whichare not provided with such binding strips as are illustrated at l3 andM. The adhesive used for cementing the linoleum or other facing materialto the strip keeps the two together during bending of the cove. In theform of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 the skirtextensions l8 and I! provide the nailing space.

Figure 5 shows a type of cove wherein a binder strip [8 has been weldedto one of the skirts and pointed tongues I 9 have been struck up toextend into the linoleum covering and hold it in place. Generallyspeaking, these tongues will be employed only where the linoleum and themetal strip are assembled together at the factory. Since it iscontemplated that the linoleum which is engaged by the tongues IE! willbe secured to the cove at the factory, such linoleum will generally beof limited width and will constitute a covering for the cove properrather than a margin of the main wall or floor covering. It will beunderstood, however, that if desired'a margin of the main wall or floorcovering may be secured to the cove in this manner.

In Figure 6 there is shown a cove 40 having a cooperating binder strip20. This separate binder strip is frequently desirable, particularly ininstallations where a pattern wall covering, such as a tile pattern, isemployed. As has been previously stated, the eye follows the patternlines .and any departure of the edge of the linoleum from trueparallelism therewith is quite marked. If,. as frequently occurs, thefloor should be not quite level, the effect would be bad. However, withthe form of the invention shown in Figure 6, the cove 40 can be nailedinto place and the binding strip 20 can be nailed in place above it,care being taken to adjust the level of the binding strip to bring itinto conformity with the pattern of the wall covering. The binding strip20 may be used in conjunction with any type of cove construction.

Figure '7 shows in plan view, partly broken away, an end of a coveredcove unit. It will be noted that the metal backing terminates at 2|,whereas the linoleum covering extends beyond this point, terminating at22. If it becomes necessary to butt two strips together, an overlappingjoint, such as illustrated in Figure 7, can be thus provided. Thisinsures adequate support at the line of junction of the abutting piecesof linoleum.

Figures 8 and 9 show inside and outside corners. form, but it will beunderstood that binding strips may be formed thereon or the covering maybe preliminarily attached thereto, as desired. When using corners suchas illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 these may be first nailed into placeand These are illustrated in their simplest enemas r it the intermediatecove strips simply have to be out off square and to the right length,thus materially simplifying the problems of fitting. Any irregularitiesin the corners are automatically taken up by the inherent flexibility ofthe sheet metal corner units. In each of Figures 8 and 9 the cove isshown with an over-turned edge thicker than the cove covering material.

which binds the edge of the linoleum. Figure 8 shows a corner whosebottom portion has an offset similar to that shown in Figure 10described below. It will be understood that this is an additionalfeature which may be dispensed with if desired. I

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate cove constructions with which it ispossible to use a floor covering In Figure 10 the skirt Ed has an offsetportion 23 to compensate for the difference in thickness of the floorcovering 2d and cove covering ld. Figure 11 is similar to Figure exceptthat the offset portion 23c of the skirt ie has a reverse curve so thatthe offset distance may be varied to take care of varied differences inthickness of the floor covering and the cove covering. As a result ofthis construction the joint between the floor covering and the covecovering material may be made flush regardless ofthe difference inthickness between the two. The coves shown in Figures. 10 and 11 mayhave prongs such as those shownat IS in Figure 5 or may be provided withbinding strips such as those shown at l3 and I4 in Figure 3, butgenerally the linoleum used with the constructions illustrated inFigures 10 and 11 will be of such thickness that cement alone will besufficient to hold the linoleum in place. In making the coves of Figures10 and 11, the metal strip will be given an additional bend at 23 or 23sso as to provide the desired offsetting. This is a simple metal formingoperation which may be done by a break if forming strips of limitedlength, or by forming rolls in a continuous process. The offset, asillustrated. in Figs. 10 and 11, is applied to the particular form ofcove which is provided with an integral binding strip. n is obvious thatthe onset feature is applicable to other embodiments of the inventionsuch, for example, as the one illustrated in Fig. 6.

All of the embodiments of my invention described result in improvedconstructions possessing marked advantages over all prior art practices.The use of metal is particularly advantageous inthat the metal stripsmay be nailed in place and the surface covering will conceal theunsightly nail holes. The construction when complete is securely held inplace and yet no marks mar the finished appearance ofv the structure.The metal used may be any of the well known corrosion-resisting ortarnish proof metals. The metal is of such thinness that it may extendin back of the surface covering with-' out causing any unsightly bulgeat its xtremity.

While I have illustrated and described present preferred embodiments ofthe invention, it will be understood that it is not thus limited but maybe otherwise embodied or practiced within the scope of the followingclaims.

of relatively flexible sheet metal bent to provide skirts adapted to liealong such surfaces 10 with an intermediate curved portion, and a fac- Iing of a covering material of the linoleum-felt base type adhesivelysecured to said strip, the cove having suflicient flexibility to conformto irregularities in the room surfaces. v

4. A preformed, laminated cove for use at the junction of two roomsurfaces comprisinga strip of relatively flexible sheet metal bent toprovide skirts adapted to lie along adjacent angularly related roomsurfaces and conform to irregularities in such surfaces, said striphaving a curved portion between the skirts, and a facing of a coveringmaterial of the linoleum-felt base type adhesively secured to the metalstrip, one of the skirts having an offset portion adapted to com- 25pensate for differences in thickness between the cove facing and acovering material onone of the room surfaces.

5. In combination, a preformed, laminated cove for use at the. junctionof two room surfaces comprising a strip of sheet metal bent to provideskirts having an intermediate curved portion and a facing of a coveringmaterial of the linoleumfelt base type adhesively secured to the strip,and a separate cooperating binder strip adapted to lie alongside one ofthe skirts and engage an end of the facing, the cove being sumcientlyflexible to conform to irregularities in the room surfaces.

6. A cove construction comprising two adjacent angularly related roomsurfaces and a preformed,

laminated cove lying along such surfaces and cent angularly related roomsurfaces, a preformed, laminated cove lying along such surfaces and aseparate binder strip lying along the cove and engaging an edge thereof,said cove conforming to irregularities in the room surfaces andcomprising a strip of relatively flexible sheet 5 metal bent to provideskirts with an intermediate curved portion and a facing of a coveringmate-- rial of the linoleum-felt base type adhesively secured to saidstrip.

8. A cove construction comprislng'two adjacent angularly related roomsurfaces, a preformed, laminated cove lying along such surfaces, saidvcove comprising a sheet metal backing and a facing, one edge of the covehaving an oifset portion adapted to compensate for diflerences in '5thickness between the cove facing and a covering material on one of theroom surfaces, and a separate binder strip lying along the other edge ofthe cove and engaging the facing thereon, the cove'being sufflcientlyflexible to conform to irregularities in the room surfaces.

NORMAN A. BRAND.

